Surviving Winter Tennis

If you are one of the lucky ones who has access to indoor courts, your tennis game is probably not much bothered by snow and rain. For everyone else, you'll find us running out to the courts at the first sign of a break in the weather. During the winter, you have to take advantage of your opportunities, even though the weather is not perfect, if the courts are playable, you need to be out there.

Because of the hit-and-miss nature of winter tennis, your game can become inconsistent and your body more injury-prone. If you're used to practicing several times a week, but rain or snow prevent you from going out that often during winter, your game may suffer. At the same time, your body may also suffer because it is not getting the workout it's used to. Fewer matches also mean your mental toughness may not be in top form.

Assuming you won't be playing on indoor courts every day this winter, here are a few things to look out for during the cold months, and ways to still have fun with your tennis even if it's storming outside.

• Warm-Up and Start Slow
  When it's cold outside, it takes your body longer to warm up and move easily. Winter tennis means cold temperatures and even colder body parts (and muscles) that may be susceptible to injury if not warmed up. It is much easier to pull or strain a muscle when it is cold out, so make sure to take the time to properly warm-up before you play.
  
• Mental Game and Concentration
  If you're not playing tennis as often as usual because of bad weather, your mental toughness could be suspect.  Match play is what helps you concentrate and focus during competition. If you are short on matches, don't expect your level of concentration to be top-notch. If you know you haven't been playing as much, go into your next game knowing that you have to work extra hard to focus on every point.
  
• Inconsistencies and Errors
  Your stroke production may become lazy and inconsistent with fewer matches during the winter, so make sure you are ready to adjust. You may not be "seeing" the ball as well as when you're playing more often, and your footwork could be off, so make sure you are aware of what's going on. If you are having problems with errors, keep the ball in play with more topspin, don't go for the lines as much, and keep your feet moving.
  
  The copyright of the article Surviving Winter Tennis in Tennis is owned by Sandra Eggers. Permission to republish Surviving Winter Tennis in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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